Fitment removal prevention device for containers

ABSTRACT

A fitment removal prevention device for insertion within a container having a rigid mouth portion. The device has a body portion and an incompressible member movable with respect to the body portion and biased from a first position, in which the device is insertable into the container, to a second position, in which the incompressible member engages the container and exerts a force on the mouth portion of the container in a first direction having a component transverse to the direction of extraction of the device from the container. Upon attempted extraction of the fitment removal prevention device from the container, the incompressible member exerts an increased force on the mouth portion of the container in the first direction, thereby retaining the device in the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fitment removal prevention device forinsertion within a container, and to a fitment removal prevention devicein combination with a container.

In order to discourage the refilling of branded containers with acounterfeit product, many manufacturers are now taking the step ofinstalling a one-way liquid dispensing valve or other fitment within aneck of the container. It has been found, however, that the determinedcounterfeiter will simply remove the entire fitment from the container,refill the container with a counterfeit product and then replace theoriginal fitment. There is, therefore, an increasing demand for means ofpreventing the removal of these fitments from the containers concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda fitment removal prevention device for insertion within a containerhaving a rigid mouth portion, said device comprising a body portion andan incompressible member moveable with respect to the body portion andbiased from a first position in which the device is insertable into thecontainer to a second position in which the member engages the containerand exerts a force on the mouth portion in a first direction having acomponent transverse to the direction of extraction of the device fromthe container so as to thereby retain the device with respect to thecontainer, the device being adapted such that the member exerts anincreased force on the mouth portion in said first direction uponattempted extraction of the device from the container.

Advantageously, the device may have a dimension perpendicular to thedirection of extraction of the device from the container when the memberis in said second position which is greater than the correspondingdimension when the member is in said first position.

Advantageously, the body portion may include a ramp surface inclinedinwardly of the mouth portion in the direction of extraction of thedevice from the container, the member being in engagement with the rampsurface and biased in a direction having a component opposed to saiddirection of extraction.

Advantageously, the device may include resilient means for biasing themember from said first position, in which the member engages a firstportion of the ramp surface, to said second position, in which themember engages a second portion of the ramp surface, the movement of themember between said first and second positions being in a directionhaving a component transverse to the direction of extraction of thedevice from the container.

Advantageously, the ramp surface and the member with which it is inengagement may be shaped such that a reaction force exerted by the mouthportion on the member may be absorbed other than through the centre ofthe body portion. Preferably, the ramp surface may have a shape in across-section taken perpendicular to the direction of extraction of thedevice from the container selected from the list comprising arcuate,triangular and square.

Advantageously, the ramp surface may be flared outwardly in a directionopposed to the direction of extraction of the device from the container.

Advantageously, the ramp surface may be disposed helically of the bodyportion.

Advantageously, the ramp surface may be provided around its peripherywith a plurality of such ramp surfaces, each angularly spaced from theadjacent ramp surfaces and each in engagement with a respectiveincompressible member.

Advantageously, the or each incompressible member may be provided with arolling surface for engagement with a respective ramp surface.Preferably, the member may have a shape selected from the listcomprising spherical, part spherical, cylindrical and barrel-shaped.

Advantageously, the device may comprise means for retaining the or eachof the Incompressible members with respect to the body portion.

Advantageously, resilient means may be provided integrally of theretaining means for biasing the or each of the members from said firstposition to said second position.

Advantageously, the member may comprise an over-centre locking memberthat frictionally engages the container when in said second position. Tothis end, the member may comprise a plurality of sprag elementsangularly spaced about the periphery of the body portion. Alternatively,the member may be disposed peripherally of the body portion and adaptedto flex from said first position to said second position.

Advantageously, the body portion may be provided with a through borethat in use communicates with an interior of the container.Alternatively, or in addition, the body portion may be provided aroundits periphery with a plurality of cut away portions which, with themouth portion, serve to define a plurality of openings that in usecommunicate with an interior of the container.

Advantageously, the device may be formed integrally with a one-wayliquid dispensing valve or other fitment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda fitment removal prevention device in combination with a containerhaving a rigid mouth portion, the device comprising a body portion andan incompressible member moveable with respect to the body portion andbiased from a first position in which the device is insertable into thecontainer to a second position in which the member engages the containerand exerts a force on the mouth portion in a first direction having acomponent transverse to the direction of extraction of the device fromthe container so as to thereby retain the device with respect to thecontainer, the device being adapted such that the member exerts anincreased force on the mouth portion in said first direction onattempted extraction of the device from the container.

Advantageously, the mouth portion may be frangible and the increasedforce exerted by the member on the mouth portion upon attemptedextraction of the device from the container be sufficient to break themouth portion.

Advantageously, the mouth portion may be provided with one or moreformations for engagement by the member when the member is in saidsecond position.

Advantageously, the mouth portion may in part be defined by an innersurface that tapers outwardly in the direction of extraction of thedevice from the container, the device having a ramp surface which isinclined inwardly of the mouth portion in said direction of extractionat an angle which is greater than that with which the inner surface istapered outwardly.

Advantageously, the device may be provided with a respective rampsurface for engagement by the or each of the members, the device beingadapted such that the coefficient of friction between the or each of themembers and the mouth portion is such that substantially no slippageoccurs between the or each of the members and the mouth portion upon theattempted extraction of the device from the container. In such anarrangement, the relative coefficients of friction between the or eachof the members and the mouth portion and between the or each of themembers and their respective ramp surfaces may be such as to allow theor each of the members to roll with respect to their respective rampsurfaces as the device is attempted to be removed from the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be describedby way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a neck portion of a container inwhich there is disposed a fitment removal prevention device inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 taken alongline II--II;

FIG. 3 is a lateral side view of a fitment removal prevention device inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fitment removal prevention device inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, with partsof the device broken away for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a lateral side view of a fitment removal prevention device inaccordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 5 taken alonglines VI--VI;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fitment removal prevention devicein accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fitment removal prevention devicein accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a lateral side view of a "ball" for use in connection with afilament removal prevention device in accordance with any of theforegoing embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a fitment removal prevention device inaccordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a neck portion of a container inwhich the device of FIG. 10 has been inserted; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a neck portion of a container in whichthere is disposed a fitment removal prevention device in accordance withan eighth embodiment of the present invention, with parts of thecontainer neck portion and of the device broken away for the sake ofclarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a bottle 10 having a substantiallycylindrical neck portion 12 symmetric about a central axis 14. The neckportion 12 is defined by a generally cylindrical outer surface 16 and aninner surface 18 that tapers outwardly at an angle of between one andtwo degrees to define a flared mouth portion 20. Both the bottle 10 andthe neck portion 12 are formed of glass.

Within the neck portion 12 there is disposed a fitment 22 such as, forexample, a one-way liquid dispensing valve. This fitment 22 may be ofany convenient design and in the embodiment shown is provided with apassage 24 coaxial with the central axis 14 for dispensing the contentsof the bottle 10. A removal prevention device 26 is interposed betweenthe fitment 22 and the mouth 20 of the bottle to prevent the removal ofthe fitment from the bottle 10.

Turning to FIG. 2, the removal prevention device 26 can be seen tocomprise a substantially cylindrical body portion 28 having a centralthrough bore 30 coaxial with the central axis 14. Three cut-away regions32, spaced apart by 120 degrees, are provided within an outer surface 34of the body portion 28 and define, with the inner surface of the neckportion 18, three circumferentially spaced openings 36 for the receiptof a respective ball 38 of a ceramic or other incompressible material.Within each of these openings 36 there is provided on the body portion28 a ramp surface 40 which is both arcuate in a cross-section takenperpendicular to the central axis 14, as seen from FIG. 2, and inclinedto that axis at an angle of between approximately 4 and 10 degrees, asseen from FIG. 1. As a result, as also seen from FIG. 1, distancebetween the ramp surface 40 and the inner surface of the neck portion 18decreases as one moves along the ramp surface toward the fitment 22.

At an end proximate the fitment 22, the ramp surface 40 terminates in anoutwardly directed shoulder 42 that interconnects the ramp surface withthe outer surface of the body portion 34. By contrast, the opposite andmore distal end of the ramp surface 40 terminates in a second, but lesswell pronounced, outwardly directed shoulder 44 that interconnects theramp surface with a part of the cut-away region 32 that cooperates withthe inner surface of the neck portion 18 to house a spring 46. Thespring 46 extends circumferentially of the body portion 28 and bears inturn against each of the balls 38 to urge the balls in the direction ofthe fitment 22 and into engagement with both the ramp surface 40 and theinner surface of the neck portion 18. To this end the spring 46 followsa path which is somewhat sinusoidal in nature with the spring held atintervals between the cut-away regions 32 much closer to the fitment 22by engagement within a circumferential channel 48.

The body portion 28 may be of any convenient rigid material and ispreferably formed of a suitable metal or of a thermoset resin such aphenolic resin or melamine formaldehyde.

In use the fitment 22 may be inserted within the neck portion 12 in anyconvenient manner. The removal prevention device 26 is then presented tothe mouth of the bottle 10 with the spring 46 retained relative to thebody portion 28 by engagement with the circumferential channel 48 andwith the balls 38 held loosely in the circumferentially openings 36. Asthe device 26 is pushed home to the position shown in FIG. 1 there willbe a tendency for each of the balls 38 to rise-up its respective rampsurface 40 toward the second shoulder 44. This is partially because theramp surfaces 40 are inclined to the central axis 14 at a greater anglethan the inner surface of the neck portion 18 and partially because thecoefficient of friction between the ceramic balls 38 and the glass ofthe neck portion 12 is greater than that between the balls and the bodyportion 28. This tendency, however, is countered by the action of thespring 46 which acts to maintain the balls 38 in engagement with theirrespective ramp surfaces 40 until the device 26 has been inserted tosuch an extent that any movement of the balls 38 away from the rampsurfaces 40 is resisted by the narrowing of the distance between theramp surface 40 and the inner surface of the neck portion 18.

With the fitment and the device in the position shown in FIG. 1, thecontents of the bottle 10 may be dispensed in the usual way. Thus, ifthe bottle were to be inverted, its contents would flow through thepassage 24 in the fitment 32, through the communicating through bore 30in the body portion 28 and out of the mouth 20 of the bottle.

At the same time however, the device 26 serves to prevent the removal ofthe fitment 22 from the bottle 10, since to do so the potentialcounterfeiter must first remove the device itself. Should henevertheless attempt to do this by simply pulling the body portion 28from the neck portion 12, a state of slip will be established betweenthe ramp surfaces 40 and the respective balls 38 with which they engage,with the result that the balls will remain substantially stationary withrespect to both the inner surface of the neck portion 18 and the fitment22. This situation arises as a consequence of the relative angles ofinclination to the central axis 14 of the inner surface 18 and the rampsurfaces 40 as well as a consequence of the relative coefficients offriction between the materials employed. These factors combine to enablethe respective points of contact between each of the balls 38 and theinner surface 18 to resist slip whilst permitting slip between the ballsand their respective ramp surfaces 40.

In another arrangement the angle of inclination of the ramp surfaces 40and the relative coefficients of friction between the ramp surfaces 40and the balls 38 may be such as to permit the balls 38 to roll alongtheir respective ramp surfaces 40 toward the outwardly directed shoulder42 as the body portion 28 is pulled from the neck portion 12. At thesame time, however, the relative angle of inclination of the innersurface 18 and the relative coefficients of friction between the innersurface 18 and the balls 38 may be such that this same rolling movementcauses the balls 38 to bite progressively harder and harder into theneck portion 18.

In either event, movement of the balls 38 in the direction of thewithdrawal of the body portion 28 is prevented. This is also the caseeven if the bottle 10 should be inverted by virtue of the engagement ofthe balls with the spring 48 which serves to maintain the balls inengagement with both the ramp surfaces 40 and the inner surface of theneck portion 18.

Because of the non-movement of the balls 38 with respect to the bottle10 and the progressively narrower distance between the ramp surfaces 40and the inner surface 18 of the neck portion 12, the outwardly directedforce exerted by the balls on the neck portion 12 increases dramaticallyas the device 26 is attempted to be withdrawn from the bottle 10 and asthe point of contact between the balls and their respective rampsurfaces moves towards the shoulder 42. Long before the device 26 can beremoved from the bottle 10 this force becomes sufficiently large toshatter the glass of the neck portion 12, thereby rendering the bottleuseless to the counterfeiter and providing the ultimate tamper-evidentsignal to innocent third parties.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that whilst the balls 38have been illustrated as being biased towards the fitment 22 by means ofa spring 38, this need not necessarily be the case. For example, in theembodiment shown in FIG. 3 the balls 38 are biased towards the fitment22 by means of a circlip 50.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the balls 38 are held inposition with respect to the body portion 28 by means of a cage 52. Ascan be seen, the cage 52, which is substantially cylindrical in shape,includes respective circumferential openings 54 for the receipt of theballs 38, each of which openings is spaced by 120 degrees. However, inaddition to simply retaining the balls 38 with respect to the bodyportion 28, that part of the cage 52 defining each of the openings 54 isalso provided with a respective downwardly-directed resilient member 56for engagement with the balls such that, in use, the balls are biasedtowards the fitment 22.

A further example is shown in FIG. 5 in which the circumferentialopenings 54 are defined by respective cut-away portions 58 within anouter cylindrical surface 60 of the cage 52.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the resilient member 56 may be formedintegrally with both the cage 52 and the body portion 28 and in so doingprovides a removal prevention device 26 that is particularly easy toinsert within the neck portion 12 of a bottle 10.

Likewise, it will also be apparent that the removal prevention device 26may be formed integrally with the fitment 22, thereby furtherfacilitating the encapsulating of the bottle and its contents.

Whilst the ramp surfaces 40 have been described as being arcuate in across-section taken perpendicular to the central axis 14, it will beapparent that this also need not necessarily be the case. Indeed, incross-section these ramp surfaces 40 may be triangular, square or anyother convenient shape. One advantage, of providing the body portion 28with ramp surfaces 40 that are substantially triangular in cross-sectionis that such a surface provides two points of contact for each of theballs 38 as shown in FIG. 7. Because none of the lines that may be drawnbetween the centres of the balls 38 and their various points of contactwith the body portion 28 intersect the central axis 14, the reactionforces RF that, in use, are exerted on the body portion by the ballsimmediately prior to the shattering of the neck portion 12 may beabsorbed other than through the centre of the body portion. As a resultthe central through bore 30 may be of increased diameter withoutcompromising the rigidity of the body portion 28. This in turn leads toan improvement in the ability of the device 26 to dispense the contentsof the bottle, since by having a through bore 30 of increased diameterit is easier for both air to enter the bottle and the bottle contents tobe poured out.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in which the ramp surfaces40 are again of arcuate cross-section, the body portion 28 isadditionally provided with a number of circumferentially spaced cut-awayportions 62 at locations intermediate the cut-away regions 32. In thisembodiment even though the diameter of the central through bore 30 islimited by the fact that the reaction forces are to be absorbed throughthe centre and by the need not to compromise the rigidity of the bodyportion 28, an improvement is obtained in the dispensing of the contentsof the bottle since air is free to enter the bottle 10 through thecut-away portions 62, leaving the through bore 30 for the pouring of thecontents.

Again, whilst the ramp surfaces 40 have been illustrated as beingrectilinear in a plane that contains the central axis 14, it will beapparent that this again need not necessarily be the case. Indeed, in across-section that includes the central axis 14, the ramp surfaces 40may be flared outwardly towards the fitment 22 so that as the point ofcontact between the balls 38 and their respective ramp surfaces movestowards the shoulder 42, the distance between the ramp surfaces and theinner surface of the neck portion 18 decreases at a more rapid rate. Inthis way the outwardly directed force exerted by the balls 38 on theneck portion 12 will be increased for a given displacement of the device26 with respect to the bottle 10.

In an alternative embodiment, the ramp surfaces 40, instead of beingdisposed in a plane that contains the central axis 14, may extendhelically of the body portion 28. In this way the neck portion 12 maystill be shattered even if an attempt is made to unscrew the device 26from the bottle 10.

In a preferred embodiment the balls 38 comprises ceramic spheres ofapproximately 3 mm in diameter. It will be apparent, however, that thisneed not necessarily be the case. In alternative embodiments which arenot specifically illustrated the "balls" may be provided with anyconvenient rolling surface and as such may be cylindrical or evenbarrel-shaped. This flexibility in the design of the "balls" enables theuse of simplified manufacturing techniques which, whilst not producing aperfect sphere, results in a "ball" such as that shown in FIG. 9 whichhas a more than adequate rolling surface 64.

Likewise, it will be apparent that the balls 38 do not necessarily haveto be formed of a ceramic material. However, it has been found that sucha material, along with stainless steel, has the necessarycrush-resistant properties to withstand the reaction forces exerted onthe balls by the bottle 10 immediately prior to the shattering of theneck portion 12.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the removal prevention device 26comprises three radially disposed sprag elements 100 which are spaced120 degrees apart around a central conduit 102 and are interconnected bymeans of a serpentine spring member 104. As can be seen more clearly inFIG. 11, each sprag element 100 is substantially planar in nature andcomprises opposed radially inwardly and outwardly directed arcuate endsurfaces 106 and 108 as well as outwardly tapering upper and lowersurfaces 110 and 112. Of the two opposed radially directed surfaces, theouter surface 108 engages the inner surface of the neck portion 18,while a heel portion 114 of the inner surface 106 engages the outersurface 116 of the central conduit 102. The conduit 102, whichcommunicates with the passage 24 provided in the fitment 22, is flaredoutwardly toward the mouth 20 of the bottle 10 and so defines anoutwardly directed shoulder 118 at the intersection of the flaredportion 120 with the remainder of the conduit. It is with this shoulder118 that the heel portion 114 of each of the sprag elements 100 engages.

Although both the end surfaces 104 and 106 are accurate in a plane thatcontains the central axis 14, the two surfaces have different centres ofcurvature 122 and 124 that are displaced with respect to each other. Asa result each sprag element 100 may act as an over-centre lockingmember.

In use, the fitment 22 may be inserted within the neck portion 12 in anyconvenient manner. The removal prevention device 26 is then presented tothe mouth of the bottle 10 and pushed home. By applying a central forceto the device 26 in the direction of insertion in such a way that theconduit 102 engages the fitment 22, each of the sprag elements 100 iscaused to frictionally engage both the inner surface of the neck portion18 and the outer surface 116 of the conduit 102. As a result the overallwidth of the device 26 in a plane perpendicular to the central axis 14is reduced, thereby enabling the sprag elements 100 to adopt theposition shown in FIG. 11 in which their respective upper and lowersurfaces 110 and 112 are both inclined downwardly toward the centralaxis 14 and in which their respective points of contact with the conduit102 are disposed closer to the fitment 22 than are their respectivepoints of contact with the inner surface of the neck portion 18.

With the fitment and the device in the position shown in FIG. 11 thecontents of the bottle 10 may be dispensed in the usual way. Thus, ifthe bottle were to be inverted the contents would flow through thepassage 24 in the fitment 22, through the communicating conduit 102 andout of the mouth of the bottle by way of the flared portion 120.

At the same time however, the device 26 serves to prevent the removal ofthe fitment 22 from the bottle 10 since to do so the potentialcounterfeiter must again first remove the device itself. If he shouldattempt to do this by simply pulling the conduit 102 out of the bottle10, each of the sprag elements 100 would have to pivot about theirrespective points of contact with both the inner surface of the neckportion 18 and with the outer surface of the conduit 116. This timehowever, instead of tending to decrease the overall width of the device26 in a plane perpendicular to the central axis 14, this movement wouldtend to increase the overall width, as the upper and lower surfaces 110and 112 are pivoted through the horizontal and to a position in whichthe points of contact between the respective sprag elements and theconduit 102 are disposed further from the fitment 22 than are the pointsof contact between the sprag elements and the inner surface of the neckportion 18. During this movement the forces exerted on the neck portion12 by each of the sprag elements 100 increase until they reach a valueat which the glass of the neck portion shatters, thereby again renderingthe bottle 10 useless to the counterfeiter.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the sprag elements100 may be formed of any convenient rigid material such as a metal.Having said that however, it has been found that the coefficient offiction between some metal sprag elements 100 and the inner surface ofthe neck portion 18 is not sufficiently high to prevent the device 26from slipping with respect to the bottle, should the device be attemptedto be withdrawn. Accordingly, the sprag elements 100, if formed ofmetal, are preferably also coated on their respective radially outwardlydirected end surfaces 106 with a suitable material such as ceramic whichhas an increased coefficient of friction.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the removal prevention device 26comprises an open star washer 200 adapted for engagement with a plug 202that serves to shield the fitment 22. To this end the plug 202 may beisolated from the fitment 22, or alternatively, as shown, may beprovided with one or more formations 204 with which the fitment mayengage.

As can be seen, the open star washer 200 is part annular in shape andcomprises a rim portion 206 from which there project a number ofradially inwardly directed pointed teeth 208. The teeth 208 engage anouter surface 210 of the plug 202 which is disposed centrally of thestar washer 200 and which is of substantially frustoconical shape.

In contrast to the previously described embodiments, the inner surfaceof the neck portion 18 is provided adjacent the mouth portion 20 with anundercut region 212.

In use, once the fitment 22 has been inserted within the neck portion ofthe bottle 18, the removal prevention device 26 may be presented to themouth of the bottle 10 and pushed home. In so doing, a central force isapplied to the plug 202 in the direction of insertion, thereby urgingthe teeth 208 downwardly with respect to the rim portion 206. As aresult the overall width of the star washer 200 is reduced in a planeperpendicular to the central axis 14 and this allows the device 26 to beinserted into the neck portion 12 with the rim portion 206 in engagementwith the undercut region 212. Once the insertion force is removed, thestar washer 200 springs outwardly for a more secure engagement with theinner surface of the neck portion 18. Nevertheless the points at whichthe various teeth 208 engage the outer surface of the plug 210 remaincloser to the fitment 22 then do the points at which the rim portion 206engages the under cut region 212. Thus again the star washer 200 acts asan over-centre locking member.

With the fitment and device in the position shown in FIG. 12 thecontents of the bottle 10 may be dispensed in the usual way. To this endthe plug 202 may be provided with a central through bore whichcommunicates with the passage 24 provided in the fitment 22.Alternatively reliance may be placed on the annual spacing 214 betweenthe plug and the neck portion 12.

At the same time however, the device 26 serves to prevent the removal ofthe fitment 22 from the bottle 10, since to do so the potentialcounterfeiter must again first remove the device itself. If he shouldattempt to do this by extracting the plug 202 from the bottle 10, theteeth 208 which engage the outer surface of the plug 210 would be urgedupwardly with respect to the rim portion 206. Rather than decreasing theoverall width of the star washer 200 in a plane perpendicular to thecentral axis 14, this movement tends to increase that width as the teeth208 are attempted to be pivoted through the horizontal to a position inwhich they engage the outer surface of the plug 210 at a point furtherfrom the fitment 22 then that at which the rim portion 206 engages theundercut region 212. As a consequence the outwardly directed forceexerted on the neck portion 12 by the star washer 200 is increased,causing the device 26 to jam in position and prevent the furtherwithdrawal of the plug 202 from the bottle 10.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the fitment removalprevention devices described above may also find use in connection withcontainers made of materials other than glass. All that is required isthat the mouth portion of the container be of a rigid material. Althoughthere are advantages in the mouth portion being formed of a frangiblematerial, such as glass, since in this way the attempted withdrawal ofthe device may result in the destruction of the mouth portion, this neednot necessarily be the case. If, for example, the mouth portion wereformed of a rigid but non-frangible material, the attempted withdrawalof the device, whilst not resulting in the destruction of the mouthportion, would result in the jamming of the device within the containerand so would still prevent the removal of the fitment.

We claim:
 1. A fitment removal prevention device for insertion within acontainer, said device comprising a body portion; an incompressiblemember moveable with respect to said body portion between a firstposition, in which said device is insertable into a container having amouth portion, and a second position, in which, when said device isinserted into the container, said incompressible member engages thecontainer and exerts a force on the container mouth portion in a firstdirection having a component transverse to the direction of extractionof said device from the container; and resilient biasing means forbiasing said incompressible member from the first position toward thesecond position, said incompressible member in the second position, withsaid device in the container, exerting an increased force on thecontainer mouth portion in the first direction upon attempted extractionof said device from the container so as to retain said device in thecontainer.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said devicehas a dimension perpendicular to the direction of extraction of saiddevice from the container when said incompressible member is in thesecond position which is greater than the corresponding dimension whensaid incompressible member is in the first position.
 3. A device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said body portion includes a rampsurface inclined inwardly of the mouth portion in the direction ofextraction of said device from the container, said incompressible memberbeing in engagement with said ramp surface, and wherein said biasingmeans biases said incompressible member in a direction having acomponent opposed to the direction of extraction.
 4. A device inaccordance with claim 3, wherein in the first position, saidincompressible member engages a first portion of said ramp surfaces, andin the second position said incompressible member engages a secondportion of said ramp surface, the movement of said incompressible memberbetween the first and second positions being in a direction having acomponent transverse to the direction of extraction of said device fromthe container.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said rampsurface and said incompressible member are shaped such that a reactionforce exerted by the mouth portion on said incompressible member may beabsorbed other than through the center of said body portion.
 6. A devicein accordance with claim 3, wherein said ramp surface has a shape in across-section taken perpendicular to the direction of extraction of saiddevice from the container selected from the group consisting of arcuate,triangular and square.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 3, whereinsaid ramp surface is flared outwardly in a direction opposed to saiddirection of extraction of the device from the container.
 8. A device inaccordance with claim 3, wherein said ramp surface is disposed helicallyof said body portion.
 9. A device in accordance with claim 3, whereinsaid device includes a plurality of said incompressible members, andsaid body portion includes a plurality of the ramp surfaces around theperiphery thereof, each ramp surface being angularly spaced from theadjacent ramp surfaces, and each ramp surface being in engagement with arespective one of said plurality of incompressible members.
 10. A devicein accordance with claim 3, wherein said incompressible member has arolling surface for engagement with said ramp surface.
 11. A device inaccordance with claim 10, wherein said incompressible member has a shapeselected from the group consisting of spherical, part-spherical,cylindrical and barrel-shaped.
 12. A device in accordance with claim 1,further comprising means for retaining said incompressible member withrespect to said body portion.
 13. A device in accordance with claim 12,wherein said resilient biasing means are provided integrally of saidretaining means.
 14. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidincompressible member comprises an over-centre locking member forfrictionally engaging the container when in the second position.
 15. Adevice in accordance with claim 14, wherein incompressible membercomprises a plurality of sprag elements angularly spaced about saidperiphery of the body portion.
 16. A device in accordance with claim 14,wherein said incompressible member is disposed peripherally of said bodyportions, and wherein said biasing means causes said incompressiblemember to flex from the first position to the second position.
 17. Adevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body portion is providedwith a through bore for communicating with the interior of thecontainer.
 18. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bodyportion has a plurality of cut-away portions around the peripherythereof, for cooperating with the container mouth portion to define aplurality of openings communicating with the interior of the container.19. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a one-wayliquid dispensing valve or other fitment formed integrally with saiddevice.
 20. In combination, a fitment removal prevention device, and acontainer having a rigid mouth portion, said device comprising a bodyportion; an incompressible member moveable with respect to said bodyportion between a first position, in which said device is insertableinto said container, and a second position, in which, with said devicewithin said container mouth portion, said incompressible member engagessaid container and exerts a force on said container mouth portion in afirst direction having a component transverse to the direction ofextraction of said device from said container; and resilient meansbiasing said incompressible member from the first position toward thesecond position, said incompressible member in the second positionexerting an increased force on said mouth portion in the first directionupon attempted extraction of said device from said container so as toretain said device in said container.
 21. The combination of claim 20,wherein said container mouth portion is frangible and the increasedforce exerted by said incompressible member said mouth portion upon theattempted extraction of said device from said container is sufficient tobreak said mouth portion.
 22. The combination of claim 20, wherein saidcontainer mouth portion includes one or more formations for engagementby said incompressible member when said incompressible member is in thesecond position.
 23. The combination of claim 20, wherein:said bodyportion includes a ramp surface inclined inwardly of said mouth portionin the direction of extraction of said device from said container, saidincompressible member is in engagement with said ramp surface and biasedin a direction having a component opposed to the direction ofextraction, said mouth portion has an inner surface that tapersoutwardly in the direction of extraction of said device from saidcontainer, and said ramp surface is inclined inwardly of said mouthportion in the direction of extraction at an angle which is greater thanthe angle at which said inner surface is tapered outwardly.
 24. Thecombination of claim 20, wherein:said body portion includes a rampsurface inclined inwardly of said container mouth portion in thedirection of extraction of said device from said container, saidincompressible member is in engagement with said ramp surface and biasedin a direction having a component opposed to the direction ofextraction, and the coefficient of friction between said incompressiblemember and said container mouth portion is such that substantially noslippage occurs between said incompressible member and said mouthportion upon attempted extraction of said device from said container.25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the relative coefficients offriction between said incompressible member and said mouth portion andbetween said incompressible member and said ramp surface are such as toallow said incompressible member to roll with respect to said rampsurface as said device is attempted to be removed from said container.